First Combined Unmanned Aerial and Surface System in Trials

By Caroline Rees / 17 Aug 2021
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Marine Advanced Robotics and Planck Aerosystems have established a strategic alliance to provide a multi-domain robotic team that includes a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) equipped with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) that operate together for advanced mission profiles.

Combined UAV-UAS platform

The first system of its kind, the UAS-USV combination has many potential uses in the maritime sector, including offshore infrastructure inspection (such as wind turbines and oil platforms), patrols of marine protected areas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), and defense and security use cases. 

The sUAS is powered by the Autonomous Control Engine from Planck Aerosystems. It can be operated remotely as a push-button capability, which includes autonomous launch and recovery, as well as automatic securing and recharging while not in flight.

The USV can travel long distances unsupported, even in high sea states, and can host additional sensors above and below the water. 

“The combination of Planck’s UAS with Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) technology will enable greater situational awareness for multiple applications,” said Mark Gundersen, CEO of Marine Advanced Robotics. 

“Thanks to Planck’s Autonomous Control Engine on the UAS and the inherent stability of the WAM-V, we’re able to provide a USV/UAS solution that can operate in open ocean conditions. Together we’re providing force multiplier solutions for aerial and surface missions for our defense and commercial customers.”

“This strategic partnership builds upon our existing relationship with Marine Advanced Robotics, which has included collaborative multi-domain deployments for Navy base security applications,” said Dave Twining, COO of Planck Aerosystems. “WAM-Vs are the ideal unmanned maritime platform for operating UASs, and we’re excited to see how far we can go with the combined system.”

The combined system is currently in trials for early customers and will be offered to all customers in the fourth quarter of 2021.

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Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact